How to Become a Notary Public in Wisconsin

The filing fee is $20. The cost of the surety bond, seal and other supplies will vary based upon the vendor chosen.

The timing can vary. Most Notaries will be approved within two weeks of submitting all of the required documents, but the commissioning process will be faster if you submit your application and payment online.

The Notary commission in Wisconsin is valid for four years. If you're a U.S. resident who is licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, you can apply to receive a permanent commission.

Applicants must meet the following requirements to become a Notary in Wisconsin:

• Be a resident of the U.S.
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have at least the equivalent of an eighth-grade education
• Be familiar with the duties and responsibilities of being a Notary Public
• Not have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor violating the public trust unless the conviction has been expunged or pardoned

Notaries in Wisconsin are required to take a tutorial and pass a final assessment exam with a score of 90% or better. You can take the exam an unlimited amount of times until you pass. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate, which will need to be submitted to the Department of Financial Institutions.

In Wisconsin, you're required to have an engraved official seal or a rubber stamp. The seal must be capable of being copied with the record to which it is attached and contain the following information:

• Your name as it appears on your commission
• Your jurisdiction
• Any other information required by the Department of Financial Institutions
• Your commission expiration date (optional)

When shopping for seals, quality and durability can vary greatly among vendors. Ask if the seals carry a lifetime guarantee. In particular, stamps should not bleed during or after use, as this can cause county officials to reject documents due to smudging. If you choose to purchase an embosser, you will also need to purchase an embosser inker to satisfy the requirement that the impression is able to be photocopied.

A second seal can help you avoid downtime if your seal is ever misplaced.

Keeping a journal is not required in Wisconsin, but is recommended by the state. A journal can protect you if a notarization performed is ever questioned, and should be kept in a safe, locked area.

A $500 surety bond is required to become a Notary in Wisconsin. The bond protects the public from financial damage if the Notary fails in their duties.

The bond can be purchased from an insurance agency that is qualified to write surety bonds in Wisconsin. If the bond form is supplied by the agency, it must be in a format that has previously been approved by the Department of Financial Institutions.

If you are sued for misconduct or neglect, any damages awarded over $500 are not covered by your bond, and the bonding company may require you to pay back the damages paid out. Many Notaries choose to get errors and omissions (E&O) insurance for extra protection. An E&O policy will cover your legal fees and awarded damages up to the coverage you select if you make an unintentional mistake or a false claim is filed against you.

In Wisconsin, the Department of Financial Institutions, located in Madison, WI, appoints Notaries.

A Wisconsin Notary can perform notarial acts anywhere within the state's borders.

You can notarize for any member of the public who makes a reasonable request and meets all requirements for notarization, such as personally appearing before you and providing satisfactory proof of identity. You cannot notarize your own signature or any documents for your spouse or domestic partner. The Department of Financial Institutions prohibits Notaries from performing notarial acts in which you or your spouse have a direct beneficial interest.

Wisconsin Notaries may charge a maximum fee of $5 per notarial act.

In Wisconsin, you must complete the Notary Public Change of Address/Name/Seal form and submit it to the Department of Financial Institutions within 10 days of an address change.

If you change your name, the state strongly suggests that you purchase a new seal in addition to submitting the change of name form. You must receive confirmation prior to using your new name and seal. When notarizing, your signature must match the name used on the seal.

The renewal process in Wisconsin is the same process as it is to become a Notary. You'll receive a notice from the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions at least 30 days before your expiration date with a renewal code.

Wisconsin became the 23rd state to authorize remote online notarizations (RONs) on May 1, 2020. Remote Notaries can notarize for signers in any location as long as the Notaries are physically located within the state at the time of notarization. Learn how you can become a WI remote Notary in this guide.

If you're not quite ready yet, we have additional resources where you can learn what a Notary is, what they do and why you should become a commissioned Notary.